| Fondue/Raclette
Bone of contention
Both Switzerland and Savoy claim paternity. According to the Swiss, raclette, that gave its name to the typical dish, is a cheese from Valais which obtained the label of origin in 2003. Well done. Same for fondue, which was supposedly made up by shepherds from Fribourg to endure the harsh winters in the Alps. But the big issue is : who invented cheese ? It was already mentioned in the Old Testament 3500 years ago. Then later by Pliny the Elder, the Ist century Roman historian, under the name “Caseus Helveticus” – the Helvetian cheese – although this only concerned soft white cheeses… What the rivals need to remember is what a friend we have in cheese. Wherever it originally comes from.
Green fairy
The other prohibition
July 5, 1908 : following a multiple axe-murder by a chronic absinth–drinker, a popular vote sealed the fate of the 19th century trendy liquor. Rimbaud’s green fairy went underground, especially in the Neuchatel district of Val-de-Travers where it was born a hundred years ago. March 1, 2005 : absinth makes a daring comeback and is sold freely again. Many former secret addicts of “poets’ morphine” now miss the happy-few clandestine way of life. Pity isn’t it ?
Heidi
Mickey’s challenger
The Graubünden’s blond-and-redcheeked heroin created by Johanna Spyri (1827-1901), is so famous she inspired Heidiland. Not a simple amusement park, but a whole region dedicated to the idyllic image she conveyed, with its Heidiland Card, its Heidi Village – Maienfeld alias Heididorf – Heidi’s water, Heidi’s cheese… The price of fame for two books translated into 40 languages for a global run of more than 20 million copies, seven movies, countless adaptations for the theatre, TV, radio and tons of by-products. Heard about it, J.K.R. ?
James Bond
Cultural sponsor
Certainly, yes indeed, the hero is to be thanked for his indirect cultural benefits. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) contributed to the completion of the cableway leading to the famous Piz Gloria (2970m), the world’s first rotating restaurant overlooking more than 200 summits, from the Titlis to the Mont Blanc – alias evil Blofeld’s den. The filming was authorized in return for financing the cableway. We should add that the producers built neither Lucerne for Goldfinger (1964) nor Verzasca’s dam (TI) for Goldeneye (1995).
Libertines
Calvin’s nightmare
In 1538, two years after the Réformation was adopted by the Council of Two Hundreds, the Libertines party succeeded in forcing Calvin to flee Geneva. Unfortunately for them, the French theologist was back three years later to set up “Protestant Rome” for which he was the hilarious pastor-king : no ornaments, no luxury, no parties, no music, no theatre, no balls, no society life, no resistance… no-nothing except an inquisitorial excess leading to 58 death sentences and 76 banishments between 1550 and 1555. Power’s requirements.
Neutrality
The fastest lesson of experience in history
September 13, 1515 : Marignan, the Swiss are defeated by Francis the 1st. First ever defeat. September 14, 1515 (or so) : the Swiss inaugurate their new foreign policy which is just one word long – neutrality. An about-turn à-la-Lucky-Luke. A strategic choice motivated by the hypothetical split of the “Three Switzerlands” and the maintenance of national cohesion. Some might take the concept of cautiousness a few steps too far.
All for one and one for all
Musketeer’s spirit
What’s the link between D’Artagnan and the Swiss Confederation? A taste for romantic phrases. Despite the 26 regions and the 4 national languages (French, German, Italian and Romansh), all unite under the national motto that sums up the initial mutual-assistance pact (1291), known as the Grütli Oath. Too good to be true?
Professor Cuthbert Calculus
Swiss direct descendant
Cuthbert is Auguste Piccard’s other son. As the inventor of Tintin’s shark-like submarine, he owes everything to his spiritual father, “the archetypal scholarly scientist” according to the author Hergé. The Belgian comic mogul was so impressed by the brilliant Swiss adventurer that he cloned him in his blockbuster. What about Captain Haddock?
Quartz
Trojan horse
Inaugurated in the 16th century, the glorious days of Swiss clock-making seemed unending, crowned with the first and only watch on the moon – Buzz Aldrin’s Omega Speedmaster… until the quartz watch was developed in Neuchatel. A huge invention that was ignored by the clock-makers who were focused on luxurious hand-made pieces… A huge mistake. At the dawn of the 80’s, the whole industry was on the verge of collapse when Nicolas Hayek the knight in shining armour launched his first Swatch – the marketing concept. By its 20th birthday in 2003, Swatch had sold 300 million worldwide and designed 2500 different models. Today, Swiss clock-making represents 1/3 of Swiss exports, that is to say 25 million watches for 7.5 thousand million Euros in 2004. A storybook adventure that might be on top of someone’s “to-do” list.
Röstigraben
The Wall
A “potato ditch”. An image, if we really think about it. Following the Sarine river which separates the French-speaking Switzerland from the German-speaking one, it is the symbol of the political, linguistic and cultural split between the two regions marching to the beat of their own drum. Although united by the very novelistic “all for one and one for all”.
Swiss Army Knife
Pardoned
The universal pocket knife, registered in 1897 as the “Original Swiss Army Knife”, has known the darkest moments of its glorious history since 9-11. Suddenly persona non grata in any luggage or on any human daring to enter the USA, the 100 models combining 90 different accessories were getting used to death row. Recently amiably forgiven by the American administration, the pocket knives are making a comeback : 7 million copies produced in 2004, meaning 1,417 an hour. Still ok with the official rehabilitation, Yanks ?
Ursula Andress
World’s hottest bikini
Despite 20 or so movies, the Bernese actress is forever Honey Ryder, the first Bond girl known the world over for her white bikini. So much so that her swimsuit has recently been put up for auction in London for 98,700 CHF : one of the most expensive square centimetre of cotton ever sold.
William Tell
Peaceful sharpshooter
According to legend, he is the guy with two Hollywood-action-movie-like shots. One in the apple on top of his son’s head. And the other one in the chest of evil bailiff Gessler. This heroic act of resistance against the representative of the Habsbourg’s authority is said to be at the origin of the Grütli Oath (1291) that set up the Helvetian Confederation. See you, Robin Hood !
Yodle/Yoodle
“Ho-la-da-ï-ti-yo.ch”
When it comes to asking you what the typical Alpine songs and the Swiss search engine (www.yoodle.ch) have in common, it’s a snap : the almost identical name. Good point. But there’s something else. Both are great steps in the epic adventure of communication, from the syllabic sequence that gave shepherds the opportunity for long-distance private calls, to the search engine that offers you the Swiss world within seconds, that is to say 42.201 websites referenced under 15 categories. Choose now between the pygmy-like connexion and up-to-date e-life.
Zolli
Gorillas and the City
11 hectares downtown, 11.400 animals or so of 1.108 different species, A-list zoo stars like Goma, Jambo and Achilla, respectively the first European baby gorilla born in captivity, the first baby gorilla born in captivity and raised by his mother and the first “second generation” baby gorilla born in captivity… A glimpse of Basel’s Zoo’s striking records that drive citizens mad about their zolli. Be part of it.
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